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In early 2024, scores of journalists fled Substack over the company’s refusal to ban Nazi newsletters. Smaller newsletter companies saw an opening. Beehiiv, which was founded in 2021 by former Morning Brew employees, became one of the trendy upstarts, luring journalists such as Oliver Darcy and Ryan Broderick.
Since then, Preeya Goenka—who has spent her career in email and joined Beehiiv in 2022—has expanded the company’s offerings for journalists. Those accepted into Beehiiv’s Media Collective pay no monthly fee for its service and receive legal support, a healthcare stipend, and audience-engagement help for two years. (It’s worth noting that journalists who aren’t part of that program have expressed frustration with Beehiiv’s rising monthly cost.) Most Media Collective members are still solo operators, but a growing number are running full newsrooms: Darcy now employs three journalists, while L.A. Material has a ten-person staff covering news across Los Angeles.
I interviewed Goenka about how journalists fit into Beehiiv’s business strategy, who should consider starting a newsletter, and why Substack is definitely not the competition. Listen below, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Show notes:
Credits:
Host: Megan Greenwell
Producer: Amanda Darrach
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